Literary Work: Tshimo (Drama)

Grade 12 · Literature

Semester 2 | Period 4 | Week 20

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Subject: Literature

Semester: 2

Period: 4

Week: 20


Week 20

Grade: 12
Period: 4
Date: Week 20
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic/Title of Literary Work: Tshimo (Drama)
Sub-topic/Focus: Act 7 – Toka
Shadows lurk closest where trust once lived. Sefu succumbs to temptation, secrecy poisons the group, and friendship begins to fray under the weight of suspicion.

Materials/Resources:

  • Tshimo by Adejoke Ajeyomi
  • Dictionary

Links to order/pre-order the book:

 

  1. P – Probe (5–10 min)

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and spark curiosity.

  • Begin with a probing question:
    • “How do secrets and temptations affect trust among friends?”
    • Read a short dramatic excerpt from Act 7, Scene 1 (Sefu’s Secret Deal).
  • Ask students to predict what choices the characters might make and the consequences of secrecy.

Teacher’s Role: Facilitate discussion, encourage predictions, and note emerging themes.

 

  1. E – Explore (15–20 min)

Purpose: Engage with the text actively.

  • Students read or listen to excerpts from Act 7 (Scenes 1–7).
  • Focus on:
    • Theme: betrayal, secrecy, temptation, trust
    • Characterization: inner conflict, moral dilemmas, divided loyalties
    • Imagery and symbolism: shadows, darkness, documents, and field as witnesses
    • Tone and tension: suspense, suspicion, fear

Methods:

  • Think-pair-share: analyze scenes such as Sefu’s secret deal or Tari’s inner conflict.
  • Role-play: dramatize key moments where trust is tested.
  • Annotate: highlight literary devices, motifs, and symbols representing betrayal and suspense.

Student Activity: Annotate text, highlight literary devices, and discuss in pairs/groups.

 

  1. A – Analyze & Question (15–20 min)

Purpose: Develop critical thinking and deeper understanding.

  • Pose higher-order questions:
    • How does the author portray the tension between survival and loyalty?
    • In what ways do secrecy and temptation destabilize friendships?
    • How do the characters’ actions reveal moral complexity?
  • Mini analytical tasks:
    • Identify recurring motifs such as shadows or documents and discuss their symbolic weight.
    • Analyze Sefu’s choices and Tari’s inner conflict to evaluate ethical dilemmas.

Teacher’s Role: Scaffold thinking, guide interpretations, introduce literary terms (motif, irony, internal conflict).

 

  1. R – Reflect & Relate (10–15 min)

Purpose: Connect literature to personal, social, or global contexts.

  • Students reflect or discuss:
    • Have you ever experienced a situation where secrecy caused tension among friends?
    • Which modern societal pressures mirror the temptations and betrayals in Tshimo?
  • Creative response options:
    • Journal entry from the perspective of Sefu or Tari dealing with moral conflict.
    • Sketch or dramatize the tension and suspicion among friends.

 

  1. L – Link & Extend (5–10 min)

Purpose: Consolidate learning and extend thinking beyond the lesson.

  • Summarize key points: betrayal, temptation, secrecy, fractured trust.
  • Extension tasks:
    • Comparative essay: Act 6 versus Act 7, focusing on threats versus betrayal.
    • Create a social media profile for Sefu showing his moral conflict.
    • Oral presentation: analyze how suspicion and secrecy shape narrative tension and character dynamics.

 

Assessment & Feedback

  • Formative: Observation during discussion, role-play performance, annotations, reflections.
  • Summative: Short essay, comprehension questions, or creative project.
  • Peer and self-assessment encouraged.